"I still don't know your name. Where are you from?"
The War Goddess circulated the Gold Jade Technique to calm herself. She couldn't attack him. Even if she did, she might not win, and she might end up getting the worst of it.
Had the Five-Colored Luan Bird not already suffered at his hands, her temperament would have driven her to attack Xiao Tian on sight. She silently recited the heart sutra ten times.
"With a heart like gold and jade, remain unmoved even if the heavens fall." The Deer-Chasing Academy's legacy came from a powerful member of the Human Race in the Divine Spirit Realm. The Gold Jade Technique was its supreme guardian art, and the Golden Jade Hand was only one part of it.
"My name is Xiao Tian. Marquis Ling Tian is my grandfather."
Xiao Tian spoke without any intention of hiding it.
"The Xiao Clan."
The War Goddess, Yu Meiren, pondered briefly and immediately recalled that great clan of the Stone Kingdom. She was somewhat surprised. Who would have thought the Xiao Clan would enjoy such fortune, producing a monstrous prodigy like him?
"Now you don't have to worry that I have ulterior motives, right? Even if I really did join the Deer-Chasing Academy with something in mind, it would definitely be you."
Xiao Tian gazed at the War Goddess's exquisite face. As for her figure, there was nothing more to say-she was an absolute enchantress, a beauty capable of bringing disaster.
The War Goddess clenched her fists slightly and silently recited the heart sutra twenty times.
"Come. Follow me to pay your respects to our Deer-Chasing Academy's founding patriarch. Once you've paid homage, you'll be a disciple of our academy. From then on, we'll share glory and loss alike."
After finishing the heart sutra, the War Goddess turned and walked ahead along the bluestone path without waiting for him.
Xiao Tian boldly looked over her alluring silhouette from behind, taking in those round, millstone-like curves. Secretly startled, he hurriedly looked away and recited his self-created heart sutra: I'm only twelve. I'm only twelve.
"You walk in front."
The War Goddess stopped abruptly and gritted her teeth, itching to summon her warhammer and smash this outrageously lecherous fellow into a meat pancake.
"Oh."
Xiao Tian readily complied. With a word of assent, he immediately moved ahead of her and followed the bluestone path deeper into the pine forest.
A short while later, a twenty-meter-tall statue of gold-inlaid jade appeared before him. Beneath it stood a five-meter-tall altar made entirely of black gold.
The man depicted by the statue was tall and imposing, with jade-like skin and golden hair. Clad in golden armor, he stood with his hands behind his back, his chin slightly raised as he gazed up at the heavens.
Ding!
[Congratulations, host. Hidden check-in location triggered: Deer-Chasing Academy.] [Check-in requirement: become a disciple of the Deer-Chasing Academy.]
Just then, the system notification sounded.
This check-in was truly easy. The only unexpected part was that, had he not lusted after the War Goddess, he would never have come here or triggered it.
"He is our Deer-Chasing Academy's founding patriarch, Huang Wuji, who possessed the strength of a divine spirit.
"The Deer-Chasing Academy was founded seventy thousand years ago and has endured ever since. It is one of the Stone Kingdom's mightiest sacred grounds for Human Race cultivation."
The War Goddess spoke earnestly, her eyes brimming with reverence.
"Which was founded earlier, our Deer-Chasing Academy or the Heaven Mending Pavilion?"
Xiao Tian asked curiously.
"The Heaven Mending Pavilion. I don't know the specifics, so stop asking. Now kneel and kowtow to the patriarch to formally enter our Deer-Chasing Academy."
The War Goddess spoke solemnly.
Xiao Tian was decisive enough. In life, those who had attained greater heights could serve as teachers, and humility was the mother of success. When weak, one had to lie low and develop properly, not play the swaggering, heaven-defying hero declaring that his fate belonged to him rather than the heavens. That sort of attitude would get him killed very quickly.
Thump!
Xiao Tian dropped neatly to his knees. Knock, knock, knock... He earnestly kowtowed four times to the academy's founding patriarch. "Patriarch above, I willingly enter the Deer-Chasing Academy. In life, I belong to the Deer-Chasing Academy; in death, my ghost will belong to it."
The War Goddess's cold, solemn expression softened considerably at Xiao Tian's earnest actions and words. Whatever else he might be, from now on, he was her junior brother.
The Deer-Chasing Academy's next disciple recruitment would not take place for another three years.
"All right. Next, I'll take you to your lodgings."
Even the War Goddess's voice softened a little.
"Congratulations, host. Check-in successful. "Obtained the Pulao Treasure Art of a Divine Fire Realm fierce beast."
Pulao, the offspring of a True Dragon and the ancient fierce beast known as the Three-Legged Silver Toad, excelled at roaring loudly. Its likeness served as the beast-shaped suspension knob on great bells, helping their sound carry far.
The rewards from this check-in were ordinary, but still more valuable than the Suanni Precious Technique. After all, this was the treasure art of a Divine Fire Realm primordial remnant.
"I want to live with you."
Xiao Tian looked at the War Goddess with a grave expression.
"Get lost!"
The War Goddess's face darkened as she snapped mercilessly.
"Senior Sister Meiren, please enlighten me."
Xiao Tian couldn't care less about all that. Since he was already a disciple of the Deer-Chasing Academy, it was time to get down to business. His grandfather had taught him the heart sutra for taming women: if he took a fancy to a girl, he only needed to beat her a few times, and she would naturally submit.
Xiao Tian wholeheartedly agreed. Having arrived in a world where strength reigned supreme, how could he follow the same old path as in his previous life? Courting someone with elegant manners wasn't as quick as getting hands-on. He remembered another ultimate move that led straight through the window of the soul: days together grew long, intimacy deepened with time, and time revealed the heart.
The War Goddess sensed danger and raised her guard, but in the next instant, Xiao Tian still closed in and pulled her into his arms.
Gold Jade Body!
Teng Snake Silk-Winding Hand!
Over the past six months, the War Goddess had finally cultivated the Gold Jade Body to minor mastery. It was the body-tempering method within the Gold Jade Technique. Its cultivation bestowed skin like ice and bones like jade, emerging unsullied from the mud, washed by clear ripples yet free of seductiveness. At the Spirit Transformation Realm, her flesh could clash head-on with primordial remnants.
At major mastery, she would acquire Golden Bones, Jade Body. Even in the Inscription Realm, she could still clash head-on with the physical bodies of primordial remnants.
Thus, this Pavilion-Guarding Ultimate Technique of the academy was indeed formidable.
Unfortunately, Xiao Tian dared to clash head-on even with a genuine primordial remnant like the Five-Colored Luan Bird. Why would he fear her? Nor did he fear the arms winding toward him like ribbons. He employed the Deceit Beast Treasure Art, passing falsehood off as truth-the pinnacle of deception. A pure white halo flowed over his body, and he actually ignored those arms entirely.
Lately, he had diligently cultivated the Deceit Beast Treasure Art. Ever since personally verifying its power in the Void God Realm, Xiao Tian had worked tirelessly at it, and now his efforts were bearing fruit.
"Senior Sister, we've actually been betrothed for ages. Your grandfather promised you to me when we were little."
Xiao Tian's hands roamed as he blocked the War Goddess's attacks, and he didn't forget to keep talking, employing the Deceit Beast Treasure Art. Attacking the heart was the superior strategy.
For no reason she could explain, the War Goddess felt that Xiao Tian's words made perfect sense. It seemed her grandfather really had arranged her engagement, and the two of them had long been promised to each other.
Secretly delighted, Xiao Tian hurriedly continued his deception. "The first time I saw you in the Void God Realm, I was awestruck by your celestial beauty. I never imagined my future wife would possess such peerless grace, pure as ice and jade, transcending worldly dust, untouched by mortal smoke. You make others feel ashamed of their own inferiority, as though every beautiful thing in the world would lose its luster before you.
"You are the immortal maiden of my dreams, the goddess who haunts my soul."
"Mm, not bad. Keep talking."
The War Goddess silently recited the heart sutra within her academy's Pavilion-Guarding Ultimate Technique and regained her clarity. She spoke as she gazed coldly at this shameless scoundrel.
This scoundrel possessed an extremely troublesome treasure art that bewildered the mind. She had nearly fallen for his trick.
The next instant!
With a thought, the War Goddess summoned the treasure she had been nurturing within her Heavenly Grotto. The grain-sized Jade Hammer swelled in the wind, becoming as large as a millstone as it smashed toward the back of his head.
With a thought from Xiao Tian, a silver three-legged cauldron shot out of his purple Heavenly Grotto, three inches above his head. It enlarged in an instant and blocked the hammer.
Gold Jade Body!
Teng Snake Wandering Dragon Technique!
Seizing her chance, the War Goddess manifested her armor in an instant, like a golden lotus unfurling. She seemed to transform into a soaring serpent, darting around him from every direction and attacking rapidly, the Golden Jade Hand in her left hand and the Teng Snake Silk-Winding Hand in her right.
Boom!
Xiao Tian unleashed the Bai Ze Treasure Art. In an instant, he resembled an awakened deity, every inch of him shining, even his hair. A blazing white sun enveloped him, its scorching radiance searing the earth as though it would purify all of heaven and earth.
The blood and vital energy throughout his body surged fiercely, boiling like magma and preventing anyone from approaching, as though he had become the sun in the sky.
The War Goddess was instantly blasted back and had no choice but to put distance between them. Her skin gleamed, her black hair danced, and her eyes shone like black gemstones beneath curved brows. Her close-fitting golden armor traced the undulating curves of her proud, jade-like body, graceful and alluring. With a devil's figure and an angel's face, she could enchant all living beings.
But now she was drenched in fragrant sweat and utterly shocked. Only by truly facing Xiao Tian could she understand what her Little Rainbow had endured.
"Is this the treasure art recorded on the Primordial Treasure Bone you obtained for breaking a record in the Void God Realm?"
The War Goddess's ethereal, melodious voice rang out.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Xiao Tian wasn't about to fall for it. She was trying to fish information out of him again.
"It doesn't matter if you won't admit it. Recently, someone with double pupils, a mysterious young man, and Bear Child have appeared in the Desolate Region.
"Only the one with double pupils has the Stone Kingdom behind him, with the Martial King Manor and the Rain Clan supporting him, so he has nothing to fear.
"If the outrageously bold young man who beat up the one with double pupils exposes his identity, he could bring a terrible calamity upon his clan.
"Even Bear Child has recently drawn the attention of many factions. Some harbor ill intentions, while others want to recruit him. Fortunately, he received a Heaven Mending Pavilion genius token from You Yu, giving him a place where he can cultivate in peace."
The War Goddess parted her red lips and calmly continued her explanation.
Xiao Tian understood what she meant: he should cultivate in peace at the Deer-Chasing Academy rather than risk exposing his identity.
"Senior Sister Meiren, it's getting late. Let's hurry and go rest."
Xiao Tian spoke.
At his words, ripples once again disturbed the lake of the War Goddess's heart, which she had only just managed to calm. There was simply no talking to this scoundrel.
The War Goddess turned and left at once.
Xiao Tian shrugged. That was enough for today. Good things faced many obstacles, and time revealed the heart. He was still young, only twelve. In this world, however, it seemed thirteen counted as adulthood, old enough to marry and have children.
Xiao Tian found a nearby rock, sat cross-legged, and began cultivating his treasure arts. The Deceit Beast Treasure Art took priority, followed by the Bai Ze Treasure Art.
Right, there was also the Pulao Treasure Art he had just obtained.
Meanwhile!
The Xiao Tian bound for the Heaven Mending Pavilion mingled with the crowd traveling there to seek admission. Wearing fitted black clothes with a black iron sword on his back, he rode the Leopard Hou he had raised and arrived near the pavilion as well.
As for his appearance, naturally, he had transformed into the likeness of Li Xiaoyao from the Sword and Fairy of his previous life-a dashing, elegant man, like a jade tree standing in the wind.
To earn Crystal Wall, Shi Hao had spread word that Bear Child would head to the Heaven Mending Pavilion, hoping to make a handsome profit together with Lord Bird and Old Man Crystal Jade.
(End of chapter)
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